Stamp dispenser



y 1961 R. SMITH EI'AL 2,986,354

STAMP DISPENSER Filed Feb. 15, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR. 7 1g. 2. ROMBERG L. SM/TH KA M A May 30, 1961 s nr 2,986,354

STAMP DISPENSER Filed Feb. 13, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 46 46 4 ROMBERG L. SMITH KAL u A so/v Unite STAMP DISPENSER Filed Feb. 13, 1958, Ser. No. 714,987

7 Claims. (Cl. 242-553) This invention relates to dispensing devices and, more particularly, to stamp dispensers of a type particularly suited to the distribution of trading stamps and the like.

A number of retail businesses find it profitable to provide their customers with trading stamps as premiums which are redeemable for merchandise. These trading stamps are generally of fixed denomination and a number of them are issued to the customer corresponding to the total dollar and cent value of the purchase. The customer then takes these stamps and places them in books provided for this purpose which, when full, are redeemable for merchandise corresponding in value to the number of stamps exchanged therefor.

The clerks and cashiers who must supply these stamps to the customers find it a bothersome and time-consuminghaving a value of one dollar which then requires only that a number of stamps corresponding to the cents less than a dollar be torn off and distributed. Obviously, the clerk must mentally determine the number of stamps to be sup plied with each purchase and then figure out how to tear the sheets to separate this number. This, of course, is no great problem in businesses that have only a few customers; however, in others like the so-called supermarkets, the dispensing of trading stamps becomes a very real problem where each cashier or checker may handle as many as a hundred customers a day.

It has also been found that the sales people often make mistakes in the number of stamps given for a purchase, either inadvertently because their mental calculations have been incorrect, or intentionally because they do not wish to take the time required to figure out how many stamps should be passed out and tear them from the sheets. The stores must buy these stamps from the company that issues them and such practices involve a substantial loss to the store, especially in large volume retail businesses.

Another problem is that the loose stamps become lost rather easily as apropriate storage facilities are seldom available when the clerks have frequent occasion on which the stamps must be distributed. The full pages are usu ally left intact in the original stamp books in which they are bound; however, after almost every purchase, one or more loose stamps are left over.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved stamp dispenser especially suited to dispense trading stamps and the like;

A second object of the invention is the provision of a stamp dispensing device that enables one or more rolls of stamps to be stored conveniently without the problem of loose stamps which might otherwise become damaged or lost.

Another object is to provide a device for dispensing trading stamps that eliminates the problem for the clerk or cashier of having to figure out mentally the number of stamps to be given and then tear 01f the appropriate numher from a large sheet, as by merely setting at most two tates Patent Y tending longitudinally between the end walls.

dials to correspond with the total dollar value of the purchase and rotating these dials until they stop, the cor-' rect-number of stamps are dispensed semi-automatically.

An additional object is the provision of a stamp dispensing machine that protects the stamps from loss or pilfering and eliminates unintentional errors in out the correct number required.

Further objects are to provide a stamp dispenser whichis simple, compact, inexpensive, substantially foolproof, easy to load and operate, adaptable for use with any type of stamp that can be wound on reels, and one that is portable and decorative in appearance.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out specifically hereinafter in connection with the description of the drawing that follows, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the stamp dispenser ofthe present invention in which a portion of the cover has been removed to expose the interior; Figure 2 is a side elevation wherein portions of a sidewall have been broken away to reveal the interior;

Figure 3 is a section taken along line 33 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a fragmentary section taken along line 4-4 of Figure I;

Figure 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4;' Figure 6 is a fragmentary section taken along line 6-6 of Figure 3; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section taken along line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Referring now to the drawing, and in particular to Figures 1 through 3 thereof, it will be seen that the stamp. dispenser of the present invention is housed in a box-like.

case, indicated in a general way by number 10, which includes a base 12, front and rear end walls 14 and 16, respectively, sidewalls 18 and 20, and a removable cover 22'. The interior of the case is divided into a narrow compare ment 24 and a wide compartment 26 by a partition 28 ex- Near the rear end of compartments 24 and 26 are mounted corre-' sponding narrow and wide stamp reels 30 and 32 for. rotation about transverse axes defined by short and long shafts 34 and 36, respectively, supported between the; partition 28 and the sidewalls of the case. The dispensing mechanisms, on the other hand, are located near the front.

end of the case and have been designated in a general way by numerals38 and 40, numeral 38 identifying the mech-: anism in the narrow compartment 24 which cooperates to. dispense stamps from narrow reel 30; whereas, numeral 40 similarly refers to the mechanism in compartment 26 that receives stamps from wide reel 32. Dispensing mech-, anisms 38 and 40 operate independently of one another as do reels 30 and 32 with which they cooperate.

At this point it would be well to mention that the stamp dispenser which is illustrated and described herein is designed to dispense from one to ten stamps at a time through aperture 48 located in the front wall 14 in position to open into narrow compartment 24; whereas, from ten to one-hundred stamps in multiples of ten are dispensed through aperture 50 in the front wall which connects with wide compartment 26. Thus, the dispensing device, in fact, comprises two independent functional units housed in a common case for the sake of utility,

' as in many instances both units will have to be used mium for each ten cents or more of a purchase.

. mechanism 38 would be actuated in a manner that will Patented May 30, 1961 giving- In most instances, however, the totalamount of the putchase will exceed one dollar and also include some fractional dollar amount, such $4.82; whereupon $4.00 worth orforty stamps would be dispensed with mechanism 40' and the remaining $0.82 worth. or eight stamps would be taken from reel 30 by mechanism 38 From the foregoing, itshould be obvious, however, that in many stamp dispensing applications, a single stamp dispensing.

mechanism would suffice.

With reference now to Figures 1, 2, 6 and 7, it will be seen that short and long shafts 34 and 36 each have both ends flattened as at 42 so that they will fit non-rotatably within the upwardly opening notches 44 in the shaft mountings 46 attached to opposite faces offthe partition 28 and the inside of the. sidewalls 18 and 20. The narrow and wide reels 30 and 32 are preferably mounted on the shafts 34 and 36 with a slight friction fit for somewhat restrained rotational movement. The reels and their shafts are removed as a unit through the top of the case following removal of the cover 22 for loading of the rolls of stamps 49. 'In theparticular form shown, reel 30 is sized to. receive a' roll of stamps a single stamp in width; whereas, reel 32 is adapted to receive a stamp roll five stamps wide;

.The" construction and operation of the dispensing mechanisms 38 and 40 can best be seen and described in connection with Figures 1 through 5, inclusive; A short shaft 52 is journalled for rotation within bearings 54 in the forward end of the narrow'cornpartment 24 extending transversely'between partition28 and through sidewall 13 where the projecting end is provided with a hand-wheel 56 attached for independent relative rotation. Similarly, a long shaft 58 extends transversely in the wide compartrment where it is journalled for rotation within bearings 60 and projects through sidewall 20 to receive'hand-Wheel 62 mounted thereon for independent relative rotation. Both hand-wheelsifiand 62ers provided with an inwardly extending: projection 64 located to engage stops 66 projecting outwardly from sidewalls 18- and 2.0 which function to limit the rotation of the hand=wheels to a maximum of"360.' A ratchet wheel 68 ismounted on both shafts 52 and 58 for conjoint rotation therewith in. the space between the sidewalls and hand-wheels. A cooperating pawl 70 is mounted for pivotal movement on the inside of each hand-wheel. and is spring-biased into contact with the ratchetwheel by leaf spring 72. Thus, hand-wheel 56 can be rotated clockwise as seen in Figure 2-up to360" without engaging the stop 66' or causing shaft 52 to turn. Hand-wheel 62, although it rotates independent of hand-wheel 56 and associated elements, cooperates in an identical manner with the ratchet wheel 68 mounted on shaft 58 to effect rotation thereof.

Figures 1, 3 and 4 show that the portions of the shafts 52 and 58 located within the confines of the case are provided with rubber-covered wheels 74 and 76, respectively, which are pinned thereto for conjoint rotational movement in longitudinal alignment with reels 30 and 32. The width of wheel 74 is approximately the same as reel 30 and wheel 76 is about equal in width to reel 32. The stamps from the reel are passed forwardly over the rubber-covered wheels and across platforms 78 and 80 which are located in the front end of the case on front wall 14 immediately underneath apertures 48 and 50 through which the stamps are ejected. One end of'arm 82 is mounted on pivot 84 attached to partition 28 for up-and-down pivotal movement while the other end is provided with a roller 86 positioned to roll along the rubber-covered surface of wheel 74. Tension spring 88 attached between arm 82 and pin 90 urges the unrolled. end of theroll of stampson reel 30 into frictional,

In much the same manner, arm 92 is pivotally attached.

to pivot 94. locatedv on the inside of sidewall 20, and spring 96 connected between the arm and pin 98 urges roller 109 into contact with rubber-covered wheel 76. Thus, wheel 76 functions as a feed mechanism to eject the unrolled end of the stamps on reel 32 through aperture 50 in the front sidewall 14 of the case. Although roller 100 has been shown approximately the same width as roller 86, it may be made identically the same width as wheel 76? if this is considered advisable.

The circumference of rubber-covered wheel 74 is approximately equal in length to ten stamps unrolled from reel 38 which, of course, means that for each complete revolution of wheel 74, ten stamps will be dispensed through aperture-48 in the case, assuming the free end of the stamp roll terminates adjacent front end wall 14. The circumference of hand-wheel 56 is divided into ten equi-angul'ar segments of approximately 36 and is provided with a scale 102 of numbers lO-l, inclusive, reading clockwise from projection 64 as viewed in Figure 2.. Hand-wheel 62 is provided with the same equi-angular dimension and scale as is clearly shown in Figure l. The periphery of. ratchet wheels 63 is similarly divided into ten equi-angul'ar segments of about 36 each which determines'the location of teeth 104, there being ten on each ratchet. Also,in Figure-1 it will be noticed that the only basic differencebetween operating mechanisms 38 and is i'n-the size of rubber-covered wheels 74 and 76; It has alreadybeen mentioned that wheel 76 is wide enough to'carry'a roll of stamps five stampswide and that wheel 74 can carry only a roll one stamp wide;

but, in addition, wheel 76 is twice the circumference of Wheel 74 which means that for each complete revolution of wheel 76, one hundred stamps will be dispensed through aperture- 56 or twenty rows having five stamps in each row.

Assumi ng the-same facts as the example already referred to briefly, the operation of the stamp dispenser in a manner "to-issuetrading stamps corresponding in valueto a total purchase of $4.82 will now be described in connection with Figures 1- 2 and 3. The stamps corresponding to the fractional dollar amount of $0.82 would be taken from the narrow reel 30. Hand-wheel 56 would be turned clockwise as seen in Figure 2 until the number; 8 on scale 102 was positioned opposite stop 66 which also functions as a fixed index. This, of course, would cause pawl 70 to move around the corresponding ratchet wheel 68 and fall into place behind the eighth tooth without causing rotation of either the ratchet wheel or rubber-covered wheel 74 because of the hide pendent relative motion of the hand-wheel on shaft 52. Then, it is only necessary to reverse the direction of rotation of the hand-wheel until projection 64 depending therefrom engages stop 66. Counter-clockwise rotation of hand-wheel 56 causes the pawl 70 to rotate the corresponding ratchet wheel 68 whiclnin turn, rotates shaft S Zand rubber-covered wheel 74; whereupon, eight stamps will issue forth through aperture 48 and can be torn off the roll against-the portion of front end wall 14 bordering thi'slo peniiigr Wheel 74 and roller 86- cooperateto pull thestain'ps oif' reel 30 which turns on shaft 34 but will not overrun because of the slight frictional contact therebetween.

In much the same manner,- hand-wheel 62 is turned in a direction to move projection 64'away from stop 66 until number 4 on scale 102 which corresponds to a $4.00 purchaselies opposite the stop. Reverse'rotation causes spring-biased pawl 72 to engage the 4th tooth of the corresponding ratchet wheel and turn rubber-covered wheel 76 in a direction to dispense forth stamps through aperture 50 in eight rows of five stamps each before projection 64 engages stop 66. Accordingly, by merely setting hand-wheel 56 to the reference number corresponding to the largest number of full ten cent units in the fractional dollar amount and hand-wheel 62 to the reference number corresponding to the largest full dollar amount, then turning the wheels backwards until they stop, the required number of stamps will be dispensed.

Having thus described the several useful and novel features of the stamp dispenser of the present invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that the several useful objects for which it was designed have been achieved. Although but a single specific form of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, we realize that certain changes and modifications therein may occur to those skilled in the art within the broad teaching hereof; hence, it is our intention that the scope of protection afforded hereby shall be limited only insofar as said limitations are expressly set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for dispensing stamps and the like which comprises, a case including spaced sidewalls and a front endwall having an aperture therein, reel means adapted to receive a roll of stamps mounted between the sidewalls for rotation about a transverse axis; feed wheel means mounted between the sidewalls for rotation about a transverse axis and in longitudinal alignment with the reel means in spaced relation to the front thereof, roller means spring-biased into rolling engagement with the periphery of the feed wheel means in position to hold an unrolled length of stamps therebetween when extended between the reel means and aperture, hand-wheel means mounted for independent rotation in one direction up to 360 relative to the feed wheel means about the same axis, and means operatively interconnecting the feed wheel means and the hand-wheel means for conjoint rotation in the opposite direction, rotation of said handwheel means in said opposite direction operating to rotate said feed wheel means a predetermined selected variable amount in a direction to feed stamps through the aperture the amount of rotation of the hand-wheel in said one direction being determinative of the amount of rotation in said opposite direction.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1 in which the means operatively interconnecting the feed wheel means and hand-wheel means comprises a one-way clutch.

3. The device as set forth in claim 1 in which abutting means carried by the case and hand-wheel cooperate to limit the rotational movement of said hand-wheel means to a maximum of 360.

4. The device as set forth in claim 1 in which, abutting means carried by the case and hand-wheel cooperate to limit the rotational movement of said hand-wheel means to a maximum of 360, and in which the circumference of the feed wheel means is selected to equal the length of a predetermined whole number of stamps arranged in edge-to-edge relation.

5. The device as set forth in claim 1 in which the means operatively interconnecting the feed wheel means and the hand-wheel means comprises, a ratchet wheel mounted for conjoint rotation with the feed wheel means, and a pawl carried by the hand-wheel means for conjoint rotation therewith and spring-biased into engagement with the ratchet wheel.

6. The device as set forth in claim 5 in which the ratchet wheel is provided with ten teeth arranged in equiangular spaced relation.

7. The device as set forth in claim 6 in which the periphery of the hand-wheel is subdivided into ten equiangular segments in angular registry with the ratchet wheel teeth and provided with suitable indicia to identify the subdivisions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 345,052 Harrison July 6, 1886 1,161,563 West Nov. 23, 1915 1,605,145 Richards Nov. 2, 1926 1,789,688 Rast et al Jan. 20, 1931 2,066,618 Gautier Jan. 5, 1937 2,248,193 Price et a1. July 8, 1941 2,386,880 Osplack Oct. 16, 1945 2,622,681 Durst Dec. 23, 1952 

